Wolf-Eyes gives Raidh a curt nod of appreciation for skewering the botfly, then dashes toward the cottage, skirting a pile of hay in an effort to put himself between the thawn and Kee-rik. Dewal bounds after him.
Dolph moves north 5' and moves to the left 20', before sending a Desructive blast at the fierce looking giant.
RTA
Damage
Wolf-eyes skirts around the side of the house to cover Kee-rik's climb to the roof top, Dewal trailing behind and barking loudly at the giant. Despite this, the thawn takes no notice, intent on smashing the object it threw out of the house to tiny pieces.
Rodolpho moves forward and throws a bolt of energy at the thawn that sizzles well wide of its target, and still the giant takes no note.
Raidh tries her utmost to discern what the thawn is intent on smashing,
then, seeing as Rodolpho has already shot at it, and she knows than aren't real friendly, decides to go on the offensive...
Full Round Action: Charge thawn (25 ft of movement to strike with reach)
[+2 Str, +2 charge]
[+3 TH Str]
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Raidh seizes the moment and charges the giant, sinking the tip of her spear deep into the creature's meaty thigh. It let out a yowl of pain and swats at Raidh with clawed hands, stumbling back and away.
Then the giant uses the side of one of its twisted hands to lift a roll of fat beneath which you catch a glimpse of maggots at least a foot long. It scoops one free and hurls it at Raidh!
Raidh leaps back in disgust as the pale pulsing thing lands at her feet.
Morgtii - Steel rain drill
Wolf-Eyes - dodge in effect
Kee-rik -
Rodolpho - 5/9 HP
Raidh - 9/11HP(cast= Kee-rik, Wolf-eyes)
Giant - wounded, sickened
Maggot -
Seeing the horrific monstrosity attacking its new friends, and with the obnoxious fly finally dead, Morgtii moves up and fires a shot at the maggot-hurling monstrosity.
Move action: Morgtii moves diagonally up and forward 20 feet towards the giant.
Standard action:
Morgtii's shot flies well off of its mark.
"C'mon, tons o' fun," Wolf-Eyes drawls. "Let's tussle.
He lunges forward and slashes at the giant with his machete
Edit to Add
Wolf-eyes' cuts deeply across the filthy giant's gut. It groans and doubles over but stays on its feet.
Kee-rik climbs down from the roof, drops his sling, and moves forward, next to Wolf-Eyes. Not exactly sure he wants his mouth on this thing, nevertheless he bites at the giant.
Raidh's face screws up first in pain and disgust from being touched by the thawn, then further horror as the foul grub lands in a plume of dust and writhes at her feet.
Bolstered by her companions, Raidh ignores the maggot for the moment and stepping forward, stabs again at the thawn with her spear...
"Let's see if you can see your reflection in this!"
Round 5
5' step
Standard Action: Stab thawn with Reach.
[+2 Str]
[+3 TH Str]
Immediate Action: Store any synergy from Kee-Rik, Wolf-Eyes or self from Round 5 - up to 3 successes...
Kee-rik leaps off the roof, spring-boards off the ground and lands squarely on the giant's face. Already off balance from Wolf-eyes' attack, the grotesque creature topples backward, and whether from Kee-rik's bites or the fall itself, lies dead.
With the bigger threat neutralized, Raidh side steps the giant maggot and impales the thing with her spear, holding it there until it finally stops wriggling for good.
The thatch roof of the house is fully engulfed in flames now, and you expect that the whole structure will be reduced to blackened char within ten minutes. It is unlikely there is anyone left alive in there at this point...
"Anyone feeling brave enough to check in that home? I'm not sure there's enough time to look around for anyone and then get back out safely. I do wonder what would have attracted a giant to this place, though..."
Kee-rik says, "Didn't see others when inside. Maybe see what it broke?"
"It was smithereening a mirror...umm breaking, Kee-rik. Thawn's hate their own appearance...the way they look."
Looking askance at the now stopped maggot, and seemingly oblivious to the burning building Raidh looks closer at the giant form, also now still.
"I'm not willing to get burnt Rodolpho." she says over her shoulder. Then:
"Anyone know anything more about thawn? Could this thing be Lidda?"
Using the tip of her spear, and careful not to disturb the corpse overmuch so as to not risk further enmaggoterisation, Raidh inspects the regenerative organs to determine gender of the thawn.
Wolf-Eyes chews on his lower lip, ruminating - he finds it impossible to reconcile the hideous carcass at his feet with his memory of the old lady who once lived here.
"I'll check 'round the other side," he says finally. "Maybe she snuck out the back? C'mon, Dewall."
Raidh gingerly pokes at the thawn, and through examination - the particulars of which are best not dwelt upon - determines that it was male. She also finds three flaming spears, a knotted length of hair stained red from blood, a large club, and some snare making gear
Benefit: The spear deals 1d6 extra points of fire damage on a hit, and the target must succeed on a DC 15 Reflex to avoid catching on fire. The weapon is destroyed after it scores a successful hit.
Wolf-eyes checks around the perimeter of the house but finds nothing of note, nor any signs that someone fled the scene.
Eventually the flames gutter out, leaving the group free to sift the house's charred skeleton. Inside they find the body of poor Lidda Elerose. Though her body is burn, it is clear that she was killed by the thawn and not the fire.
Kee-rik finds a trap door in the floor buried under soot and debris. Inside is a lock box, which the group pries open with little trouble. Within the box you find:
8 gp in assorted coppers and silvers
Broken shards of a white porcelain mask
1 black silk robe trimmed in red
1 small etching on yellowed paper in a now-broken wooden frame showing a young man holding a shovel and leaning against a post in a pig pen
Somewhat dejected, Wolf-Eyes looks through the contents of the lock-box. The mask and robe are puzzling to him, but he wonders if he knew the person depicted in the etching.
"Mask and robe ... were Lidda's?"
Wolf-Eyes does not recognize the man in the etching.
The robes and broken mask look like those that would be used by cultists during their gatherings. These trappings are associated with a cult known as the Kaj’Talel, demon worshipers who are known to be active in this area.
"The mask and robe look like cultists would be wearing them. These look like Kaj'Talel worshippers. Demon lord. Really nasty. I hope the townsfolk haven't cast their lots with cults. We need to be on watch for them in this area, I suppose," the Mage nods as he studies the trappings.
Channel
"The mask and robe look like cultists would be wearing them. These look like Kaj'Talel worshippers. Demon lord. Really nasty. I hope the townsfolk haven't cast their lots with cults. We need to be on watch for them in this area, I suppose," the Mage nods as he studies the trappings.
"Maybe that's what this Silion fella wants to talk to us about?" Wolf-Eyes offers. "And what about those fancy spears? Not to judge the depth of a puddle by lookin' at the surface, but big ugly over here doesn't look like the type to carry somethin' like them."
After milling about the ruins of Lidda's burnt out cottage for a while to consider what has happened and what they found, the group decides to move on to Eiren and their rendezvous with the wizard Silion.
A couple of more hours of travel and the group passes through the remainder of the outer homesteads. Finally you you emerge from a field of ripening pumpkins and enters the north-west end of town late in the day. Erien is like many towns its size, with a large manor house and a few dozen smaller homes. On the eastern edge of town stands a stone tower, the tallest building in Erien.
*Erien is a small village of approximately 150 people.
* The lord’s manor house is built on a hill to the north with Silion’s tower to the east.
*Building placement follows a circular pattern surrounding a muddy village green.
*Most homes are single story, wattle-and-daub structures with thatched roofs.
*Many of the homes have small gardens.
*The village has three large fields; one is fallow and two have recently been seeded with pumpkins.
Government: autocracy (remote noble lord with local bailiff)
Population: 155 (70% human, 30% demi-human, mostly halflings)
Notable NPCs:
Lord Kelvore Wrothe
Bailiff Minendil Umbalin
Druid Ardrinei Elorni
Sheriff Anissa
Forester Cale
Wizard Silion Tuldaril
Places of Interest
Elbi's Images
Erien's jewelry shop and the only Glittergold Consortium storefront in all Eastdale.
•Greenbriar Tavern
The only inn and tavern in Erien, Greenbriar maintains a large common room for the occasional town visitor.
•Melodies Roost
Erien's general store is a large, single-story building of wood with heavy locks and sturdy shutters.
•Wrathclaw Tower
This three-story stone building is the tallest structure in Erien and home to the wizard Silion Tuldaril.
•Wrothe Manor
This large manor house is the home of often absent Lord Kelvore Wrothe. The town Bailiff lives and works from the manor as well.
"Let's go to Silion's first post haste. Assuming everything is okay with him, we can figure out what's going on around town," Dolph suggests, worried about his former master.
Kee-rik is ready to follow the group.
"Let's go to Silion's first post haste. Assuming everything is okay with him, we can figure out what's going on around town," Dolph suggests, worried about his former master.
"Morgtii agrees with this course. These events hint that this village may be in danger, and this one will not lose another home. Perhaps the wizard will be able to see things we have not."
The group heads directly to Silion's tower on the east side of the village. A forty-foot stone tower stands watch over the village. It is connected by a short hall to a comfortable-looking house. While most villagers simply refer to it as “Silion’s Tower” or “the wizard’s home,” it was dubbed Wrathclaw Tower after villagers witnessed Silion’s angry (and devastatingly effective) response to a goblinoid threat to the village some years ago. Silion liked the name and adopted it.
You knock on the door to the tower (rather than the house. You are here on business after all), but there is no response. After some moments the door to the house opens and a matronly Halfling appears, calling out, The wizard is out, way wit'you now!.
Then she squints at the group more closely and exclaims, Why, its young master Dolphy! The master's expectin' you and yours young sir, but he really is away right now. Confabulat'n with colleagues up in Bels, he is. But he arranged some rooms for you over at the Greenbriar. I'm sure he'll send someone to fetch you when he gets back.
Wolf-Eyes hooks his thumbs on his belt. "I s'pose there's nothin' more for us to do then but to cool our heels and wet our whistles - giant-killin' is thirsty work."
Dolph grins and hugs the halfling. "Good to see you again, ma'am! Are you keeping the old man hale and hearty? I was scared to hear the urgency of his message. As soon as he gets back, have him send for us. I really am worried by the tone of his message," he gives the housekeeper another hug as he heads out with the group.
"A cool drink sounds like a wonderful idea. I've not been around the town in forever."
After bidding farewell to Silion's housekeeper Pruet, the group heads over to the Greenbriar, Erien's only inn and tavern. The work day is winding down and the hard working folk of Erien are returning from the fields. The streets are busier now than when you first crossed through. You group gets more than a few sidelong stares.
Light leaks out through open windows from Greenbriar’s taproom, beyond which you can see a short halfling standing behind a bar of polished cherry wood, chatting with a grizzled veteran. A two-story barn and detached kitchen complete the complex.
The halfling notices your group in the open doorway. Well don't just stand there gawking. In or out? he asks with a broad smile.
Kee-rik shyly steps in and asks, "Have bug juice?"
Glancing askance at Kee-rik, Morgtii's eyes whirl with concern.
"Surely Kee-rik means juice for bugs, yes?"
"Would it be wishful thinking that your old pal Silion would've included a bar tab for us with our rooms?" Wolf-Eyes asks Rodolpho.
To everyone: "Why don't we keep ourselves in our host's good graces and find a table?"
"Cultists huh? No good comes of dark trafficking. Let us keep news of this particular secret...secret. If Lidda was a Cultist, she may not want...have wanted....gaaah! Look, this is private. Let us keep it that way for now. Agreed?"
"Wow, some pile!" remarks Raidh, looking up and squinting at the tower.
After hiding a smile at Kee-rik's faux pas, Raidh looks longingly at the tables.
"I could sure....sit down." she huffs, her armor weighing somehow more than ever.
Raidh sidles up to the proprietor, and keeps her conversation low.
"Say, landlord - we were up at...Lidda's place. It was ransacked by a thawn - we had to kill it. Lidda's house burnt to the ground and Lidda seems to have been killed by the thawn. You seen Sheriff Anissa 'round - tis probably best not to advertise..."
Dolph grabs a table and orders a mug of the house special. "It must have been important for him to warn us and then head off like that. And meeting with a group of likewise powerful people. It might have something to do with the cult for all I know!"
Your group heads into the Greenbriar. It consists of a tap room, and a large common room that converts to cots for travellers spending the night.
Heads straight to the bar to strike up a conversation with the Halfling barkeep, Dolph and the others seat themselves at a large table and flag over a waitress.
Sarey Firth, a merry middle aged Halfling and co-owner of the Greenbriar comes by to take your order. Why its little Morgtii! she exclaims warmly, laughing at the exchange between Keei-rik and the entobian. Do't you dears fret. I'll bring over a couple of honeymeads - liked by insects and amphibians both
At the bar Sarey's husband Handel leans in conspiratorially to hear Raidh's tidings. Oh that's tragic, he says with genuine concern. Poor Lidda. She was a grumpy old gal to be sure, but no one deserves to go out like that. You're right, the sheriff should know.
He stands back up and calls out to the old mad nursing a drink at the far end of the bar. Abel, Go do something useful and fetch sheriff Anissa. These folks have some sorry news she needs to hear.
The rosey nosed man looks up and retorts. Wha? What news?
The rosey nosed man looks up and retorts. Wha? What news?
Wolf-Eyes leans back his chair - far enough so that he can make eye contact with Abel. "We ran into a bit o' trouble on the way in," he drawls. "Nasty flies as big as eagles and a giant, uh, whaddya-call-it-"
He snaps his fingers, trying to conjure the word; "Uh, prawn- no. Thawn. A giant thawn."
An expression that comes as close to a human smile as Morgtii can manage contorts its rubbery features.
"Thanking as ever Sareyfriend! Greenbriar honeymead tastes of home to this one."
Morgtii's midlegs rasp quietly against each other in anticipation of the drink, though a soft pulsing of its eyes and gentle quiver of its antennae betray an underlying nervousness as Morgtii mulls over the day's events.
Old Abel leaps up from his bar stool at Wolf-eyes' news. I knew it! Didn't I tell you Handel? Its them demon worshippers up to no good! Summoning up giant bugs an giant shrimps from gods knows where!
Oh get on with you Abel Oarsman, Sarey swats at him as she brings over the honeymead. Enough with you demon-worshippers already. Go fetch the sheriff.[b] Abel grabs his rumpled hat and hurries out the door. Sarey puts down the drinks and gives Morgtii an affectionate pat between the antennae. [b]Don't mind him dear,
"I think notifying the sheriff is the right play here. It might be nothing, but I'm concerned that the power of those evil demon cults are spreading. Have you heard any rumors about any =one ending up missing or something worse happening around the burgh?"
Kee-rik silently wonders about what will happen if Abel, on his way to get the sheriff, shouts to everyone who can hear about demon worshipers and summoned monsters.
Sarey puts down the drinks. You mean Abel might be right? I mean, I've heard the stories of those horrid cults in other towns, but there's never been any here in Eiren.
She pales visibly as something occurs to her. Oh you don't think they have anything to do with little Isabella Droam going missing do you?
A wooden chair clatters to the ground and honeymead spills unnoticed across the floorboards as Morgtii springs to its feet.
"Isabella is missing?!? Since when?!"